Irene “Rene” Mariner Austin, 76, passed away on June 20, 2023, at her daughter’s home in Jefferson, Maine, from Alzheimer’s complications. She was surrounded by loved ones at the time she passed. Rene was born on Jan. 20, 1947, to John and Irene (Owens) Mariner in Florence, S.C. In 1974, she met the love of her life, Charles ‘Chuck’ Martin Austin, and they married the same year in Phoenix. They eventually settled in Snowflake to raise their family. Her passion for sewing blossomed into a successful career as professional seamstress. Whether flannel pajama pants, a wedding dress, or Broadway costumes, Rene gave the same dedicated attention to each project. She volunteered her time and skills for school and community theater costumes, choir dresses and robes, missionary clothing, and so much more. In later years, she found a new outlet in making quilts and her family and friends were beneficiaries of her beautiful work. An active and faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints her entire life, Rene joyfully served her family, neighbors, and community and was called as a senior missionary in the Poland Warsaw mission from 2010-2011. Her sweetness, humor, and overall goodness will be sorely missed by her many family members and friends. Rene was preceded in death by her husband, Chuck; her daughter, Rebecca; two grandsons, Drake and Dawson; her mother, Irene; her father, John; and three brothers, John, Byron and Michael. She is survived by three sons, Daniel Austin of Provo, Utah, Nathan Austin of Heber, Arizona, and Benjamin (Kim) Austin of Mapleton, Minn.; four daughters, Rachel (Michael) Bethea of Jefferson, Maine, Amanda (Jeff) Nees of Snowflake, Julie Austin of Augusta of Maine, and Kathryn (John Ryan) Barr of Wilcox; her dad, E. Clarence Davis; two sisters, Barbara Sollars and Starr (Dan) Nicholas; two brothers, Ernest (Lois) Mariner and Terry Smith; 15 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and friends. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 1, at the Centennial Snowflake Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Interment will be in the R.V. “Mike” Ramsay Memorial Cemetery in Snowflake. Owens Livingston Mortuary of Snowflake handled the arrangements.
